Grouse guns

[Dean Romig]

Wow Brett, that should have been a Parker Pages article!

Wish I was there.





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[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Bill Bates

earlier this week I planned on getting out into some my favorite grouse coverts. My gun of choice would have ben either my 16 gauge SIACE hammer gun or my old 12 gauge William Read Belgian Guild gun. Unfortunately that ain't happening.

Thursday a two long burn small forest fires on my mountain went from a hundred or two acres to now something near 100,000 acres. They have evacuated communities just to our east and we are under a pre evacuation order. We're packed and ready to load the dogs and get out of dodge if need be but honestly looking at the forecast I don't think we are likely to have to leave.

The worst part is due to a number of fires this summer and now this fire most of my close by coverts have been scorched. Plus we're staying close to home if we need to button up and go.

Maybe we can get out next weekend. Oh, well it is way to hot anyway. October and November are really the months to hunt grouse here in Utah.





I took this yesterday. We live just at the base of the ridge on the right of the frame





From the back porch

Bill, Best of luck to you.

[Sara LeFever]

Originally Posted by Brett Hoop

and moved south to Drakes with Anderson, Eis, Smith &Co. Where I was out shot by a girl, Sara LaFever, that made me move over to Deep Creek and just look at guns for two days before Uncle Bob and his buddy Tom lured me back onto the course . A few weeks latter and the not to be missed Ribfest in the Endless Mountain's at Ernie's was the backdrop for more grouse gun practice. Here I did better. I couldn't say it was Ernie's scotch as some suggested, because that came latter honest. But Uncle Bob was chilled out on something because I witnessed him run a 47 all on camera because we had Paul Fuller filming and shooting with us. Humbled again I had nothing to loose and grabbed the speed gun a Parker GH Damascus in the process as we say, with Brian Dudley. Rough shaped and no trigger guard it was sure to illicit comment. Rich you really were missed, and missed a wonderful opportunity. Ohio SxS and I took it to the pattern board, where the drops proved out wonderfully and then I splattered my glasses with paint when repainting the board and couldn't get all of the paint off. The group of Edgar, Chuck, Allan and Longbarrel 28 Daryl and .410 Smitty were kind about my gun, I feel certain it was the first time they had shot with someone spotted with whitewash. And I shot a good for me number, where were you then Sara?

[Researcher]

I've tried in the past to explain to you easterners that this is a grouse gun --

Supershot Sealed Eight.jpg

but you just don't seem to be grasping the concept.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Tom Flanigan

I once owned a C grade 20 bore in 95% condition that I bought from Gary Herman many years ago.

Tom, That may well have been my gun. I bought it at the Old Safari Outfitters, and never once took it out. I gave it to Gary to sell for me and I think he sold it at the Orvis (Sandanona) Game Fair. (coincidentally, this weekend is their big to do)

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by edgarspencer

Tom, That may well have been my gun. I bought it at the Old Safari Outfitters, and never once took it out. I gave it to Gary to sell for me and I think he sold it at the Orvis (Sandanona) Game Fair. (coincidentally, this weekend is their big to do)

It could well be the same gun. How many CE 20 bore guns with 25" factory full choke barrels do you see. I bought the gun from Gary, but not at Sandanona or the Connecticut store. Gary had one of the Invincibles on display in Connecticut. People doubted that it was a true Invincible and was probably an upgrade. But Gary always insisted that it was the real deal and time has proved he was right.

[Dean Romig]

Dave - in the East we prefer to shoot our grouse on the wing....

Maybe the "Partridge type sights" has you confused??




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[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

I've tried in the past to explain to you easterners that this is a grouse gun --

Attachment 65676

but you just don't seem to be grasping the concept.

That’s a Canadian grouse gun. My Saskatchewan French Canadian friends shot a lot of grouse by riding the wooded area roads in the evening and ground swatting them. They were in it for the meat and usually shot .410 shotguns, but a real purist would use a rifle or handgun. I rode with a pretty young lady one night for the heck of it. She whacked three that evening and I was cringing, especially when she steeped on the wings and pulled up on the legs to strip off the breasts. It was barbaric. Only the breasts were loaded into the car. Her mother told me she was brought up on eating grouse and never wanted to eat another. She was incredulous when I said I hunted them with my setter. She responded, “why would you do that? You can get all you want riding the roads in the evening”. I didn’t try to explain. It would have been lost on her. The folks up there are meat hunters, pure and simple. Most don’t have a lot of money and grouse on the table means lower food bills.

Most of the ducks and geese I shot each day went to the aboriginal people. I also left most of the moose and bear I killed with them, only taking about 75 lbs. home. The aboriginal’s loved to eat ducks and geese but they don’t shoot them because of the cost of shells. Each shell has to account for a lot of meat. They save their cartridges (mostly 30-30) for moose and deer. They loved me for the ducks and geese I gave them and became close friends. They would watch my setter for me when I was off hunting larger game. They gave me permission to hunt all tribal lands. I appreciated the gesture, but I could hunt anywhere up there. However, it was an honor and I was grateful. They are wonderful people.

[todd allen]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Those little 20 gauge Trojans are jewels! What length are the barrels, 26" or 28"?

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Trojan number 228335 is a 28" BBLd gun. It's a sweet handling little gun, that's been neglected for far too many years, in deference to it's higher graded kin that it has shared safe space with for all these years. This gun deserves to go North this year to do what it was built for.

[James L. Martin]

I also have a 20ga Trojan 28" and everyone who see's it can't believe how good it looks and feels.